Multiple drawing spacer



1945. J. H. SCOTT 2,382,029

MULTIPLE DRAWING SPACER I Filed April 6, 1943 Patented Aug. 14, 1945 v UNITED STAT Es PATENT. o Flca' 'MULTIPLE DRAWING SPACER John Hubert Scott, Corpus Christi, Tex.

Application April 6, 1943, Serial No. 482,034

3 Claims. (01. 33-110) This invention relates to multiple drawing spacer.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described whereby lines or dimensions on a drawing may be spaced uniformly.

Another object is to provide means in a drafting machine, whereby the spacing of the lines apart may be readily varied.

A further object is to provide means for readily ascertaining the spacing distance, that is the dis-. tance the lines are spaced apart.

A still further object is to provide'a device of the character described which may be readily used either with a vertical or a horizontal scale in any working position.

Withthe above and other objects in view the invention hasparticular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, examples of which are given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a fragmentary plan view of a drafting machine illustrating the invention.

Figure 2 shows an inside edge view of a detachable part, or attachment, of the machine embodying the invention, and showing one of the stop elements in active position.

Figure 3 shows an end view thereof, partly in section.

Figure 4 shows a plan view thereof, and

Figure 5 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates a conventional drafting machine which is mounted for universal movement over the work and which includes the spacing device 2.

This spacing device may include a frame having the spaced flanges 2a, 2b which embrace the adjacent edge 3 of the machine. Clamp screws 4 may be screwed through the flange 2a and clamped against the edge 3 to secure the spacing device in place.

At its outer side, or margin, the frame has the spaced flanges 2c, M, which have the vertically aligned upper and lower openings 5, 5a and 6, 6a.

Fitted snugly, but slidably, between the flanges 2c, 2d are the guides 1. Post like plungers, or stop elements 8, 8, are slidable axially through said guides and work, also through the upper and lower openings 5, 5a, 6, Go, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5.

The plungers, or stop elements 8, have enlarged heads 9 on the upper ends'thereof and these plungers are fitted through upper and lower washers l0 and Il theformer above and the latter beneath the frame and th washer l l is suitably secured on its corresponding "plunger. Those washers and the close fit of the guides between the flanges hold'the plungers in proper position during the movement of the machine relative to them.

:Around each plunger and between'the head 9 and washer Ill there is at coilpressure spring I2 which serves. to. hold the corresponding plunger elevated, or inactive. 1,

The plungers 8 are held in a predetermined starting position by'the pull springs l3 which are attached at one end, to the guides l and, at their other ends, to the anchor rods l4, between, and secured to, the flanges 20, 2d, as best shown in Figures 2 and 5.

The-drafting machine may carry the scales, or

7 straight edges l5, I6.

It will be noted that the openings 5a, 6a, are larger than the openings 5, 6 so that different spacings may be attained, for example the plunger through the openings 5, 6, may be depressed until its lower end engages the supporting surface and there held and the drafting machine then moved until the opposite edge of the openings engage said plunger. The plunger may then be released and. the corresponding spring III will return it to starting position. It may then be again depressed and the machine moved, as before, and afuniform cross hatching, or other spacing,- thus secure'd. The lower end of each plunger has either a point IT, or a friction tip l8 to insure against slippage on the supportin surface.

If a coarser cross hatching or wider spacing is desired the plunger through the openings 5a, 6a may be used, as above explained, for regulating the range of movement of the machine.

The distance of travel of each successive movement of the machine will be the difference in the distance between opposing sides of any set of upper and lower openings and the diameter of the corresponding plunger therethrough. Rec tangular holes will allow the drafting machine to be moved in any selected direction, thus allowing spacing on vertical or horizontal planes.

When it is desired to move the machine in other directions than as specifically described above other attachments may be employed as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l with the plungers normally located in other corners of be substantially the same in construction and mode ofoperation as shown in Figure 5.

The heads 9 form convenient spaces to carry indices to indicate the type of spacing which will occur when any particular plunger is depressed.

The drawing and description are illustrative, only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In a drafting machine movable over a supporting surface, a separable part applicable to selected positions on the machine and comprising spaced flanges which have aligned upper and lower openings, a guide fitted between the flanges, a stop element slidable axially through said guide-and which works also through said upperand lower openings, yieldable means normally holding the stop element out of engagebetween: said flanges and a yieldable member connecting said anchor and said guide.

2. In a drafting machine movable over a supporting surface, spaced flanges carried by the machine and having an upper and a lower open-l ing, a guide fitted snugly between the flanges but slidable relative thereto, a stop element slidable axially through the guide and working through said openings, yieldable means normally holding the stopelement out of engagement with said surface, said stop element being manually depressible into such engagement to hold said I element stationary, corresponding sides of said,

openings being engageable with said element when the same is held stationary and, upon movement of the machine, to limit the movement I of the machine, upper and lower washers one above andthe other beneath said flanges through which the stop element is fitted and to which the lower washer is secured, an anchor between said flanges and a yieldable member connectin the guide to said anchor.

3. In a drafting machine movable over a supporting surface, a separable part having clamp means for detachably securing said part to selected positions on the machine, said separable part comprising spaced flanges which have aligned upper and lower openings, a guide fitted between the flanges and movable relative thereto, a stop element slidablethrough said guide and which works also through said upper and lower openings, means normally holding the stop element out of engagement with said surface but yieldable upon the application of pressure to the stop element to move the latter into en-- gagement with said surface to 'holdsaid element stationary while the machine is moved into one position relative thereto, and yieldable means for moving the guide and stop element to original position upon release of the stopelement from said surface.

JOHN SCOTT. 

